Seismic Evaluation and Methods of Rehabilitation of Old Masonry Buildings in the Bay of Kotor (Montenegro)

Abstract

Old load-bearing masonry buildings exist all around the world. The cultural and architectural heritage value of these buildings and the consciousness of public opinion have led to a need for safeguarding and preservation policies for these architecturally valued buildings and urban aggregates. This paper provides the information on the constructive and structural details of the old buildings dating from the 12th to 19th century in the Bay of Kotor and discusses their seismic and dynamic behaviour, identifying structural fragilities and consequently their vulnerability. One factor that significantly influences the seismic vulnerability is the quality of workmanship, which has, in conjunction with the lack of maintenance of the buildings, increased the seismic vulnerability of heritage masonry buildings in general. Masonry constructions represent an important part of Montenegrin Architectural Heritage. The existing heritage masonry buildings in the Bay of Kotor suffered major earthquakes with repairs ranging from minor repairs to partial rebuilding. No degree of seismic resistance to any potentially severe shaking levels has been determined for the surviving buildings. The lack of strategies, policies and actions by the institutions responsible for this domain in the course of the second half of the 20th century drove these buildings to the state of serious degradation. The adoption of intrusive and inadequate rehabilitation and conservation practices, using new materials and construction techniques on structural and nonstructural elements, has strayed away from traditional knowledge and practices. The main objective of this research is understanding the whole building process that underpins a historical construction, and building techniques and other methods applied in building the architectural and engineering structures constituting the present Historical Heritage in Montenegro.

Seismic Rehabilitation Techniques for Conserving and Managing Cultural Heritage of old City Fortress in Novi Pazar

“…Traditional construction knows different types of lime mortars: with the addition of old oils, beaten bricks, "red" soil, etc. Old builders paid special attention to the openings in the walls (doors, windows) from the aspect of aseismicity: simple segmental or flat arches for load distribution were made above the windowsills and lintels due to reinforcement, usually on three joints [26]. Excavations of the remains of Tower Dzephana show that wooden ceiling beams were used (Figure 13) that passed through the wall, assuming the function of tension.…”

“…The authors analyze the sources dealing with examining the magnitude and frequency of earthquakes in a given area [7][8][9] with the aim of rehabilitation and recommendations for strengthening and improving seismic resistance of building with significant cultural importance, the most important principles of protection, and the possibility of application [10][11][12][13][14][15]. The properties of the historical masonry constructions in seismic zones are shown in the case study on the remains of the Dzephana Tower by presenting the different types of stone found in the environment and used in the building [26][27][28].…”

“…In Sections 6.3 and 6.4 recommendations for the application of three levels of reconstruction are presented depending on the degree of damage due to the effects of the earthquake; we deal with techniques (non-invasive and invasive) that can be applied to the walls of the fortress, Motrilja Tower, as well as the restoration of the Dzephana Tower with old materials in combination with modern materials (in the future) [26,40]. In Section 7, the authors indicate the importance of preserving traditional buildings, along with their exploitation, in order to promote and valorize cultural heritage and activities related to organizing public events, through pictures and plans for future purposes.…”

Simplified Seismic Assessment of Unreinforced Masonry Residential Buildings in the Balkans: The Case of Serbia

“…Although these URM structures may exhibit nonlinear behaviour in the post-cracking stage, their ductility is limited and the overall performance is inferior when compared to otherwise similar RC and steel structures. Research studies related to seismic risk associated with local masonry construction have been carried out in the region, including Slovenia [5,6], Croatia [7][8][9], Bosnia and Herzegovina [10,11], Northern Macedonia [12], and Montenegro [13]. Post-earthquake reconnaissance after the 2010 Kraljevo earthquake (M 5.4) confirmed seismic vulnerability of URM residential buildings in urban centres of Serbia [14].…”

Seismic Hazard Resilience in Montenegro: A Comprehensive Qualitative Analysis of Local Preparedness and Response Mechanisms

“…Furthermore, the dynamic properties of these structures play an essential role in seismic design, as evidenced by comparisons with local and EC8 standards [27]. The structural integrity of heritage masonry buildings is undermined by poor craftsmanship and the absence of routine maintenance, heightening their risk during seismic events [28]. In regions with high seismic risk, such as Blida City, evaluations of building resilience often concentrate on vulnerability curves, states of damage, timelines for reconstruction, and related costs, all crucial for enhancing seismic resilience [29].…”